Centrifugal evaporator



M. J. KERMER GENTRIFUGAL EVAPORATOR Aug. 31, 1926.

Filed Jan 16, 1925 elti Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

lltllTED STATES MARTIN J. KERMER,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CENTRIFUGAL EVAPORATOR.

Application filed January This invention relates to improvements inrotatable evaporatoii's and it is one object of this invention toprovide an effective seal to prevent the steam which is used for heatingpurposes from entering the interior of the evaporator or coming incontact with the packing that is used in connection with the bearings ofthe evaporator.

This invention is an improvement of the evaporator shown in myco-pending application, Serial No. 700,508, filed March 20, 1924-. Onedistinguishing feature herein disclosed is the means for sealing thesteam in the steam jacket which encompasses the rotatable cylinderwithin which concentra tion is effected.

Another new feature is the means for pre venting a hydrostatic head dueto steam condensation within the confined space surrounding theaforesaid cylinder by not rotating the steam and water jacket orhousing.

The invention furthermore comprises the novel structure and combinationsof elements hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out anddefined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthis invention and in. which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views Figure 1 is an elevational view of theevaporator for disclosing this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragment part in section and part in elevationillustrating this invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the sealing chamber.

Figure 5 is a reduced sectional view of a part of the side wall of thesteam jacket or housing showing the method of admitting steam into theannular steam receiving space.

As shown on the drawings:

There is a rotatable cylinder 1 which is mounted in suitable bearingsthat surround it and that are supported by a suitable fined steam jacketor housing 2.

Between the lower part of the cylinder and the jacket or housing 2 thereis a confined cylindrical steam receiving chamber 3. The section 2'" ofthe jacket or housing at the upper end of the steam chamber ias a radi-16, 1925. Serial No. 2,773.

ally extending flange 2*. The next upper adjacent section 2 of thehousing rests upon the flange 2 and is provided with an annular inwardlyspaced flange 2 whereby an annular liquid receiving chamber 4 is formed.The rotating cylinder 1 is provided with a radial depending flange orlip 5 that extends into the chamber 4 and that is slightly spaced fromthe interior surface of the housing section 2. The upper interiorsurface of the housing section 2 is rabbeted and a wedge shaped batl'lering 6 rests upon the shoulder formed by the rabbet of said housingsection.

The w ll of the rotating cylinder 1 is threaded and is slightly reducedupon its eX- terior surface just above the inner edge of the baffle ring6, another bafile ring 7 rests upon the shoulder formed by said reducedportion and is rotatable with the cylinder 1.

The lower surface of this bailie ring 7 slopes upwardly and outwardly,which is oppositely to the adjacent slope of the ring 6 with which it isadapted to co-act. The upper surface of the baiiie ring 7 is horizontaland forms a support for a felt packing ring 8 or the like. There is anarrow space between the baffle rings.

A bearing ring 9 rests upon the flange 2 and is contained between theflange 2 of the housing section 2 and the flange 2 of the housingsection 2 the portion of the ring between said flanges being reduced orrabbeted upon both sides.

A bearing ring 10 having an upper sloping surface rests upon the ring 9and radially movable segments or arcuate blocks 11, having lowerbevelled surfaces, TGSL- upon the ring 10, each block has a threadedaperture for adj ustably receiving an adjusting bolt 12 which extendsthrough the housing section 2 in the plane of the flange 2 which isprovided with suitable grooves 13 in alinement with said bolts when theblocks 11 are drawn outwardly by bolts 12, ring 16 is raised into closerapproximation with ring 15 and thus adjustment to compensate for wear ofthe bearing parts is made.

Spaced above the ring segments or arouate blocks 11 there is a ring 11which is threaded on and rotates with the cylinder, and a ball bearingstructure 15 1617 is confined between the arcuate blocks 11 and saidring 14. This ball. bearing structure contains an upper race member 15,which rotates with the cylinder 1, a lower stationary race member 16,and intermediate bearing balls 17.

A rotatable angular ring 18 is confined in the housing section 2locatedabove the ring 1 1. The adjustment of the screws 12 willobviously adjust the ball bearing structure.

The bearing ring 7 does not extend to the "all of the housing section 2,a small space being left for adjustment and a duct 19 extends from saidring through the flange 2 of said housing section. L'ltewise a duct 20extends from the chamber 4- through the housing section 2. A glass tube21 communicates with these ducts through suitable tubes 22 and n8threaded into said ducts.

A liquid such as mercury 2 or the like is placed within and remains inthe chamber t and its heightmay be observed thru the glass tube, whichalso forms a depository for grease or other matter that may find its.exit through the upper duct 19.

It is well known that such evaporators rotate at. a high rate of speedand may develop on a confined liquid by centrifugal force a resistancewhich may be of considerably greater efi ect than the steam pressure inthe steam chamber Consequently the pressure of the steam on the mercuryin the mercury chamber l will not be able to expel or force the mercurytherefrom between the flange 5 and housing section 2 on account oftheresistance of theconfiued liquid effected by the centrifugal force, andas the mercury operated on by, centrifugal action provides an eilicientseal, the steam cannot permeate therethrough. To do so the steampressure would have to force the mercury thru the annular space between2 and 5 radially towardthe axis of the rotating cylinder and against theeffect produced by centrifugal action which tends always to compact themercury and to force it in the opposite direction, so it is impossiblefor the steam to escape through the mercury seal through bearings andenter the top of the cylinder which is operating at sub-atmosphericpressure and interfere with the action in the evaporating chamber.

In Figure 5, Q is a sectional view of the stationary housing wall 2 thruwhich steam is admitted into the steam receiving space 3. The steamconveyingpipe 25 extends parallel with the jacket or housing 2 andbranches 26 connect the steam pipe at intervals to permit steam to enterspace 3 at a plurality of localities to more uniformly distribute theheat to the cylinder 1.

The condensed steam or water in the space 3 will be thrown outwardly bythe centrifugal'eifect of the cylinder 1 into contact with the innersurface of the wall 2 where it will entrain and be trapped outby effectof gravity thru opening As the water is not materially rotated anobjectionable hydrostatic head will not be formed in space 0, thereforefull heat interchange will be effected with the rotating cylinder.

The cylinder 1 is rotated by shaft 27 by pulley 2S. 7

The device is shown in position with its longest axis in a verticalpiane and supported on a frame 29.

The cylinder may be exhausted thru pipe 30 secured in the head 31. Steamwill enter pipes 26 and be projected into contact with the outer surfaceof the rotating cylinder 1 in radial planes. The movement of thecylinder past the impacts of the steam jets will remove or wipe away anywater or steam lilm from the surface of the rotating cylinder, thereforethere will not be interposed between the steam and the cylinder anyinsulating films that are usually formed and the steam will haveintimate contact with the cylinder surface.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details ofconstruction may be *ariedthrough a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. In an evaporator, a rotatable cylinder, astationary housing in spaced and concentric relation with said cylinder,a portion of said cylinder and housing providing a steamchamber, and aportion of said housing pro\-'iding an annular fluid chamber near theend ofsaid steam chamber to seal the chamber, and bearings between saidhousing and cylinder beyond said fluidchambcr.

in an evaporator, a housing having a steam chamber and a fluid chamberabove said steam chamber, a rotatable cylinder in said housing having anannular depending flange positioned in said fluid chamber adjacent theouter wall thereof providing an inwardly directed path for said fluid,the centrifugal force when the cylinder is rotated preventing the escapeof fluid thru said path.

3. 1n an evaporator, a rotatable cylinder, a housing spaced fromand'concentric with said cylinder, said cylinder and housing providing asteam chamber and said housing having a fluid chamber beyond said steamchamber said cylinder having means extending into proximity of the outerwall of said fluid chamber providing a path for the fluid extendinginwardly toward the axis of rotation of said cylinder.

4:. In a device of the class described, a housing having an annularinterior fluid chamber; a rotatable cylinder journalled in said housingand having an annular and depending annular flange within said fluidchamber and adjacent the outer wall thereof providing a path therefromtoward the axis of the cylinder.

5. In an evaporator, a rotatable cylinder,

illt) a housing concentric with but spaced from said cylinder to providean annular space between said housing and cylinder, extending toward therotatable axis of the cylinder, bearings located in the upper part ofsaid space, a steam chamber in the lower part of said space and anintermediate liquid seal controlled by the centrifugal force caused byrotation of said cylinder.

6. In a device of the ciass described, a stationary cylindrical memberhaving an in terior annular fluid chamber opening upwardly and inwardly,a rotatable member within said cylindrical member, said rotatable memberhaving an annular depending flange extending into said fluid chamberadjacent the outer wail thereof to provide a seal.

7. In a rotatable evaporator, a seal for fluid under pressure,comprising a stationary member having an annular groove, a memberrotatable upon a vertical axis, an annular flange extending from saidrotatable member into said groove near the outer wall of said grooveleaving an annular passage along the out-er surface of said flange, anda liquid in said groove to provide a seal when the rotatabie member isrotated.

8. In a rotatable evaporator, a seal for a member thereof rotatable 011a vertical axis, a relatively stationary member providing an annulargroove containing a liquid, said members providing a space to contain afluid under pressure in communication with said groove, and a passagewayfrom said groove for said liquid extending toward the axis of saidrotatable member.

9. A centrifugal evaporator comprising a cylinder rotatable on avertical axis; a surrounding stationary jacket to provide a steamreceiving space about said cylinder and means to introduce steam at aplurality of vertical intervals into said steam space in paths radial tothe axis of said cylinder, whereby to produce direct impacts of jets ofsteam against said rotating surface.

10. A pressure-resisting seal for relatively rotatable memberscomprising an outer memher having an annular groove to contain a liquid;an inner member having an annular part insertible in said groove toprovide an axially converging annular path between the parts andextending from said groove and a liquid in said groove to form apressure resisting seal by eii ect of centrifugal action when one ofsaid members is rotated.

11. A pressure-resisting seal for relatively rotatable memberscomprising an outer memher having an annular open groove to contain aliquid; an inner member having a part insert-ible into said groove toprovide an axially extending and an axially converging annular path forthe liquid from said groove and between said parts and a liquid in saidgroove held in said path by centrifugal action when one of said membersis rotated.

12. A pressure-resisting seal for relatively rotatable memberscomprising an outer member; an inner member; an annular groove betweenthe members to contain a liquid; an annular flange provided by one ofsaid members extending into said groove to provide an axially convergingannular path between said flange and the wall of the groove and a liquidin said groove and path operating'as a pressure seal between the membersby ef fect of centrifugal action when one of said members is rotated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MARTIN J. KERMER.

